The two year conversion of the former German fisheries protection ship Seefalke into the US research ship Falkor is now expected to be completed next March.

Work on the 82.9m long and 13m wide ship began at Germany’s Peters Werft in 2009 for the US Marine Science & Technology Foundation (MST). The 1,930 gt Falkor will see global service as a research vessel from 2012 in a project with Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI) in California.

Victor Zykov, director of science operations at SOI told MJ, “We expect the ship to be delivered at the end of March 2012.”

He also said the refit was to provide science support facilities and equipment, including a large configurable aft deck, heli-pad, A-frame, J-frame, CTD, HIAB hydrographic winch cranes, on board labs and workshops.

Zykov explained to MJ that the extended time period for the work was because of “the development of the vessel refit specifications to make the (ship) suitable for global scientific research operations, development and review of the detailed vessel modification plans, designs, and ship yard drawings, and the actual vessel modifications by the ship yard.”

Falkor’s propulsion consists of two Deutz MVM TBD 510 8 diesels, with a total output of 5,882 kW providing 12 knots cruising speed. There are also two Deutz MWM TBD 602 12 auxiliaries, each of 560 kW. Falkor will have a range of 15,500 nautical miles and be able to accommodate up to 42 personnel, including 18 crew.

Peters Werft reported a very unusual dock meeting in August when the old Seefalke was joined by the new Seefalke in the yard’s parallel dock. The new fisheries research ship, completed in 2008, came in for routine class and other work as well as accommodation conversions.

The new 1,775 gt Seefalke, built at Peene-Werft, is smaller than predecessor Falkor at 72.8m long and 12.5m wide. It now operates, along with sister ship Meerkatze, for the German Ministry of Agriculture and Food.